Neville Shute got it right

Osboro

Osboro

Well-known member
From what I remember Shutes " on the beach" had the "attitude" pre-end of the world ( post northern hemisphere nuclear fall-out clouds waiting to move south to australia come the seasonal change) very like today's attitude.
Every one knows its going to happen. But people just carry on ,The future will be a massively different world to now.
Climate catastrophe. World mass migration. Starvation etc.
The main difference is we can actually prepare for the inevitable do something to mitigate the huge changes that will face the human race.
But we seem to be more concerned about the economy than the environment.
A greedy selfish race , still fighting to get more and more whilst the we face massive population changes.
How silly some people are when criticising those oter people who are trying to get the issue discussed.
" people have got to get to work" , really?, how short sighted can you get.........
The UN are spelling it out clearly, but each government, in its own way, are in my opinion, simply ignoring it.
Not a happy thread. But I really belive we need some pragmatic leadership in this world.
 
I read this book in a roundabout way.

Stayed at my nanna's one night and she had a book on the night stand which was Chute's What happened to the Corbetts?

I'm a fast reader so read it in one. It was ok but not amazing, but then I saw something about on the beach, so read that. Brilliant, but thoroughly depressing.
 
Nothing serious is gonna happen yet - until we get the issue of whether the pyramids were 'not built by man' and/or whether they were built from the top down , as gravity had not been invented yet. It will take a while to sort this out so hold ya horses on any 'apoca' type stuff please.
 
Boro_Interlinked said:
Nothing serious is gonna happen yet - until we get the issue of whether the pyramids were 'not built by man' and/or whether they were built from the top down , as gravity had not been invented yet. It will take a while to sort this out so hold ya horses on any 'apoca' type stuff please.
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Is it too big a subject or to frightening?
Thank goodness nothing serious is gonna happen yet.
( apologies if your being ironic)
 
Osboro said:
Is it too big a subject or to frightening?
Thank goodness nothing serious is gonna happen yet.
( apologies if your being ironic)
Click to expand...

I can’t take this seriously without some balance
We need a random scientist to post who can tell us everything will be fine…..
Then I can relax
 
Osboro said:
From what I remember Shutes " on the beach" had the "attitude" pre-end of the world ( post northern hemisphere nuclear fall-out clouds waiting to move south to australia come the seasonal change) very like today's attitude.
Every one knows its going to happen. But people just carry on ,The future will be a massively different world to now.
Climate catastrophe. World mass migration. Starvation etc.
The main difference is we can actually prepare for the inevitable do something to mitigate the huge changes that will face the human race.
But we seem to be more concerned about the economy than the environment.
A greedy selfish race , still fighting to get more and more whilst the we face massive population changes.
How silly some people are when criticising those oter people who are trying to get the issue discussed.
" people have got to get to work" , really?, how short sighted can you get.........
The UN are spelling it out clearly, but each government, in its own way, are in my opinion, simply ignoring it.
Not a happy thread. But I really belive we need some pragmatic leadership in this world.
Click to expand...
You're a light in the darkness mate !
 
locomansimon said:
You're a light in the darkness mate !
Click to expand...
Recognising what is to come , coming to terms with it, the making plans is not dark.
Keeping a cheery attitude whilst pretending its all gonna be OK? Now that's really the ultimate darkness. Believe it or not I'm a reasonably happy chap. I've accepted how my kids and grandkids future might be. But I can't accept the blind positivism that some people have adopted.
 
To be honest, I'm more than happy that none of my children want children themselves.

All are aware of the massive problems to come, probably mass starvation events in already marginal countries, wars over food, water etc.

I think (hope) that my children may not live to see the worst of it, but I'm not sure.

Its thoroughly depressing. Very good article, can't remember where it was, but basically saying that mankind is almost programmed to not accept that we will die out as a race.
 
‘People have got to get to work, really?’

Yes under the present system they really, really do otherwise they do not have the basics of shelter, food and warmth.

Governments are to blame for this, they can find vast resources to fight pointless wars but are helpless when it comes to controlling the capitalist forces destroying humankind.
 
I don't believe we will die out , but l believe " life as we know it" ( or rather life as we have known if in the last 200 years) will end. It might take a few generations but it will change.
The Romans and Egyptian ages lasted longer than the capitalist consumer age will, some people just cannot envisage it so simply dismiss it.
 
HolgateCorner said:
‘People have got to get to work, really?’

Yes under the present system they really, really do otherwise they do not have the basics of shelter, food and warmth.

Governments are to blame for this, they can find vast resources to fight pointless wars but are helpless when it comes to controlling the capitalist forces destroying humankind.
Click to expand...
I understand you completely. One individual can't adapt , society, even the world needs to do it.
And there's the rub.....
 
NZBoro1 said:
To be honest, I'm more than happy that none of my children want children themselves.

All are aware of the massive problems to come, probably mass starvation events in already marginal countries, wars over food, water etc.

I think (hope) that my children may not live to see the worst of it, but I'm not sure.

Its thoroughly depressing. Very good article, can't remember where it was, but basically saying that mankind is almost programmed to not accept that we will die out as a race.
Click to expand...

I'm pleased you said that .. in a weirdly reassuring way ..

My two young adult girls feel very similar , and are actively thinking about what and where would be most sustainable to live in 20+ years time ..

Although terrifying as a bigger picture, I'm very proud of their bigger picture awareness ( given I was off my chops frequently at their age )
 
Osboro said:
I understand you completely. One individual can't adapt , society, even the world needs to do it.
And there's the rub.....
Click to expand...
I think it’s too far gone, for years people have thought the politicians and senior public servants knew what they were doing, but they don’t, they haven’t got a clue.
 
There was a televised serial version of ”On the Beach” quite a few years ago . I believe Fred Astaire was in the cast - no dancing puns please. Does anyone have any idea if this version is available ?
 
It was a film. Very different from the book.
Great writer Shute. Airframe , based on a a scandle I believe, really good read.
 
You were half right Fred Astair was the film ( 1959) and the TV series was done in 2000.
According to the burb the TV was more true to the book.
 
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